2013

Herbert H. Richardson

Herbert H. Richardson

Dr. Herbert H. Richardson (MIT ’55, ’55, ’58) is a visionary leader in research, education and technology transfer in transportation systems engineering. Early in his career, he was a major contributor to the High-Speed Ground Transportation Act of 1965 and led MIT’s research in levitated vehicle technology. He was the first Chief Scientist of the U.S. Department of Transportation in 1970, where he developed a federally funded program for university research and directed a variety of research activities, spanning the modal administrations.

Richardson helped found MIT’s Center for Transportation Studies and served in engineering leadership roles at MIT in the 1970s and early 1980s. He joined The Texas A&M University System in 1984, where he served as Vice Chancellor and Dean of Engineering and later as Chancellor. From 1993 to 2006, he served as Agency Director of the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, greatly expanding its state-wide presence and multimodal scope. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, was Chair of the Executive Committee of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, and has received numerous honors for his accomplishments.